Hot Electric Quicksand #20

This will be my last post for the Unite 2 Fight Paralysis blog.

As any vgrafen reader will know, I comment on any and all subjects that come into my world; I hold back very little. Unfortunately, however, U2FP, because it is a non-profit entity, has limitations on what can be said politically, or they’ll be in jeopardy of losing their tax-exempt status, I’m told.

Not one to sit still while my metaphysical wings are clipped, I’ve decided to move on to other projects.

I want to thank the directors of U2FP for providing me this space for as long as they have, and I wish them good luck down the road with the fight we’re all committed to winning: curing paralysis.

My health is still of prime concern, and in truth, I am still struggling with my illness, though that has had no bearing on my decision to leave U2FP. Rest assured ‘ol v is not quietly idling off to the sidelines, not in this, one of the most important political years in memory.

Those of you wishing to stay abreast of what and where I’m off to next can reach me at: vgrafen@hotmail.com.

At any rate, and again, thanks to U2FP for putting up with me, and for all those who’ve enjoyed my Hot Electric Quicksand scribblings.

Until then, onward…

vgrafen

Hot Electric Quicksand #19

I will be out of commission starting this Wednesday, when I begin an in-home wound vac treatment with IV Vancomycin for however long it may take.

I’m not gonna blame her too greatly, but my Nurse Practitioner, against the advice of a surgeon and the docs at UC Davis, felt I’d be ok with a return to Augmentin, which I have undertaken, and wouldn’t need wound vac. Seemed odd to me and my wife; Pia talked to several other docs since then and determined I needed better care; I was able to get checked at UC Davis and it was confirmed I have MRSA; they set up the in-home treatment to begin this week. One-two-three, no screwing around.

I’d been taking Augmentin till last week and was actually feeling better; perhaps it was just the flu ending and leaving me with just the infection, for Augmentin isn’t supposed to work against MRSA, but I am not in the chill/fever/sweat phase I was in, and the wound looks better. Still, I am grateful I will be on an aggressive treatment which I pray will put an end to this endlessness. I’ll be essentially bed-ridden for however long, but I am committed to ending this wound/infection and getting back to living.

I deeply empathize with anyone struggling with this infection. It is insidious; just when you think you’re doing better, bam! you ain’t.

I got a phone call on Saturday from the mother of a girl in one of the SCI peer groups up here; the girl, 15 years old and t-8, has had MRSA since July and just can’t beat it. Unlike myself, with a wound below my injury site, she has to deal abscesses on her back and neck, where she can feel, along with several on her ass. Excruciating pain, constantly infected, close to suicide; I gave what little support I could, mentioned turmeric and a few other alternates but really couldn’t give much more. As we both noted, it’s the endlessness of the condition, never seeing progress, that is exhausting, along with the physical misery. Terrible shit.

But the weather is beautiful today in Butte Valley, so I’m gonna head outside and smoke a cigar after a short bowl of the kind, try to stand up for awhile, eat some dinner and get ready for Christmas. Usually this is a wonderful time of year for my wife and I, but this year it’s almost an after-thought, due in large part to my health. Thankfully I have not been hospitalized, and hopefully this next treatment will kill the bug and close the wound. I will be a patient patient, believe me! I look forward to taking some of the burden off my wife’s shoulders, and returning to a state of activity.

Until I am allowed computer time again, I am signing off. Merry Christmas to all, and a Happy -and healthy- New Year!
~

(Note: My book, ‘Scouring the globe for a cure: a disabled man’s experiences with stem cell treatment’
can be purchased at the following Web address:
www.booklocker.com/books/2857.html)

Hot Electric Quicksand #16

Folks, this will be short and…well, certainly not sweet:

I have had an health collapse. My infection exploded and I have been put on 7 day outpatient IV Vancomycin treatment; horrible, disgusting stuff, poisons the soul and nothing tastes remotely good.
I concluded the IVs yesterday, my arms a pin cushion of blown veins and yet another attempt to insert.

I came home to find my docs, and the wound care nurse, are recommending I see a surgeon, for skin flap surgery. Son of a bucktaldo, surgery. My fault, too,  I’d been cavalier and kept at my normal routines, Ironman as usual, and basically ignored the growing wound on my ischium, more concerned with the fucking MRSA. Well, now I’m fucked, I’m essentially bed-ridden and my thoughts of,  ‘well, it’ll heal by itself’ or ‘I’ll just do wound vac and be up and around’ are fantasies.  I await word on my visit with the surgeon, but my RN wife says, “It’s deep, ugly and bad; it may be surgery is needed. And it looks like you’re still infected.”

Shite…

And I now must shut everything down and concentrate and commit to my healing. I am no Ironman, I have been blasé and even arrogant, and now I’m paying for it.

Thus, I am sidelining myself from activity. I will report next…when things are better.
~
(Note: My book, ‘Scouring the globe for a cure: a disabled man’s experiences with stem cell treatment’
can be purchased at the following Web address:
www.booklocker.com/books/2857.html)